4 Tips: How to Sleep On Airplanes

a person sleeping on an airplane

Many of our guests at Mountain Trek travel for work and spend a lot of time in hotels, at airports, and on airplanes. When enduring cross-continental flights, it can feel impossible to sleep on the plane.

Related Article: 7 Tips To Help You Sleep Better

Sleeping on a flight has its challenges, but there are a few best practices that can help you get some rest between runways. First, don’t force sleep if it’s the middle of the day and you aren’t changing timezones as it will disrupt your circadian rhythm and make it harder to sleep that night. If you are on a night flight or are traveling through timezones, here are some hints to get some shut-eye.

4 Practices to Get to Sleep on an Airplane

Get a good seat

Choose a window seat on your preferred side to sleep. If you book early and can choose the best option using this: helpful tool.

Don’t drink

Although booze is a muscle relaxant and depressant, it disrupts our rapid eye movement sleep and lowers the quality of our rest. Try a herbal tea instead.

Eye pillows and earplugs

Come equipped with your own supply. Specialty earplugs and a good eye pillow will block out the too most difficult environmental interruptions; light and noise.

Get Comfy

The best position for your body, from a spinal perspective, is to have the seat reclined as there is less direct loading on the lumbar. Next, bring something to pad the lumbar curve (like the extra sweater in your carry-on) and a neck pillow as it will prevent total collapse of the neck. Lastly, stow your carry-on above you to give your legs room to stretch out and avoid cramping.


What is Mountain Trek?

Mountain Trek is the health reset you’ve been looking for. Our award-winning health retreat, immersed in the lush nature of British Columbia and featuring daily sunrise yoga and night-time restorative yoga, will help you unplug, recharge, and roll back years of stress, anxiety, and unhealthy habits. To learn more about the retreat, and how we can help you reset your health, please email us at info@mountaintrek.com or reach out below: